Sarita Colonia

Sarita Colonia is a restaurant and bar at Loreto 40 in the Recoleta district of Santiago, on the border with Bellavista. It is known for Peruvian dishes and pisco sours served in a theatrical, drag-influenced setting, and it has built a following as one of the more distinctive evening venues in this part of the city. The menu draws on Lima's cooking, and signature plates include ceviche, pulpo al olivo (octopus in a creamy black olive sauce) and lomo saltado, a stir-fry of beef, onion and tomato served with chips and rice. Pisco sours and other pisco cocktails are central to the offer, and the bar is a major part of the experience. Peruvian-style cooking is a long-established presence in Santiago, and the restaurant approaches it with a playful, camp aesthetic of bold colours, kitsch decoration and a stage-like atmosphere. The mood is lively, colourful and inclusive, with music and moderate to high noise levels in the evening, and the dress code is casual to creative. Prices are in the upper mid-range, with cocktails adding to the total, and shared plates suit groups. Hours are listed as Tuesday to Saturday for lunch and evening, though visitors should confirm evening times. Reservations are recommended on Fridays and Saturdays and can be made by phone at +56 2 2881 3937. Its location near Bellavista makes it easy to combine with a walk around Patio Bellavista or the lower slopes of Cerro San Cristóbal. The restaurant suits groups and visitors who want a fun, social dinner with Peruvian cooking and cocktails rather than a quiet, formal meal.